“The events at Ballarat are heartbreaking for all involved in the Victorian jumps racing community,” Racing Victoria said.
“Each and every one is committed to making the sport as safe as it can be and has worked hard to do so with marked improvement across the previous 14 years.”
Former deputy premier Rob Hulls. Credit: Josh Robenstone
Hulls joins animal welfare advocates in launching a renewed push for a ban following Sunday’s fatalities and injuries.
Purcell said a review of the season did not go far enough.
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“Nothing can be done to protect horses in jumps racing, and there’s no other option but to ban it,” she said.
“We’re the final state that goes on with this cruel spectacle … It’s time for us to catch up, actually be the progressive state and treat our horses with kindness.
“The industry is being stubborn. There’s been a long and relentless campaign here in Victoria, a bigger one than any other state.”
A decision about the future of jumps racing would ultimately need to be made by Racing Victoria’s board.
Racing Minister Anthony Carbines said the events of Sunday’s meeting were extremely concerning.
“Our thoughts are with [jockeys] Lee Horner and Will Gordon as well as those who looked after the horses,” he said.
“I’m advised Racing Victoria will do a thorough review of the incident, and of the 2024 jumps racing season, to further improve safety.
“Racing Victoria has adopted a number of safety improvements for jumps racing since 2010 – including modification to the design of jumps, improved training facilities, stricter horse qualification standards and track preparation as well as venue selection changes.”
Official statistics say there have been 3.1 horse fatalities per season in Victorian jumps races since 2010, compared to 9.3 fatalities per season before changes were made.
In November 2009, Racing Victoria announced it would stop jumps racing in the 2010 season amid concerns that falls and fatalities were rising. However, this decision was revoked 10 months later and bans have not been revisited by successive Coalition and Labor governments.
Racing South Australia blamed declining participation for its decision to no longer run jumps events from 2022, leaving Victoria as the only remaining state in which races are held.
The jumps are the feature event at May’s Warrnambool carnival, known by racegoers as the ’Bool and attended by tens of thousands of visitors.
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses said 12 horses have died in the 2024 jumps season. Their figures include an additional five fatalities they have counted from track work and training.
In a statement online, RSPCA Victoria also said there had been 12 horse facilities this season.
“Victoria is the only place in Australia that continues to hold jumps events and as such RSPCA Victoria is calling for an immediate ban on the activity due to the inherent high risk of injury and death,” they said.
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